Hydraulic hoisting and rotating apparatus



Aug. 3l, 1943. H. F. vlcKERs HYDRAULICiHOISTING AND ROTATING APPARATUS Filed March v, 193s Patented Aug. 31, 1943 HYDRAULIC HoIsTlNG AND ROTATING APPARATUS Harry F. Vickers, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Vickers, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 7, 1938, Serial No. 194,284

3 Claims. (Cl. 60-52) This invention relates to power transmissions and more particularly to those of the iiuid type wherein a power transmitting iiuid, such as oil, and hereinafter referred to as such, is utilized for the transmission of power between one or more pumps and one or more fluid motors.

It is an object oi the present invention to provide a power transmission system for operating a translatable and rotatable load device, and

- which may be constructed as a compact unitary power device providing for smooth, yet rapid, translatory movement of the load device under manual control and which also provides for accurate follow-up operation of the load device to any angular position desired.

A further object is to provide a system of this character in which the rotation of the load device can be eiected only when the load device nas been translated to one certain position and to provide reliable, safe, and trouble-proof interlocking means for insuring this result.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel limit stop means for preventing continued rotation of the load device beyond a predetermined point by disabling the hydraulic drive mechanism and which does not, however, prevent operation of the drive mechanism in the reverse directionl to back the load device away from its stop.

A further'object is to provide positive and.

reliable llatch means for releasably restraining the load device in one position of its translatory movement together with safety interlocking means for releasing the latch means and prevent- `ing translation of load device until the latchv means is fully released.

Further objects have to do with detailed constructional features and coordinated operation of parts as more fully set forth in the specification and claims. l

The single figure is a diagrammatic View of a hydraulic'system embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

The embodiment of the invention selected for v illustration is suitable for operating'a vertically translatable head I in such a manner that the head may be either retained in its upper and inoperative position, 'as illustrated, or may be moved downwardly in its lowermost position. In'

this latter position a rotatable member I2, which is carried by the head l0, may be rotated t0 anyl desired angular position by means of. suitable follow-'up control mechanism.

The power transmission system for accomplishing these movements comprises a pump I4, prefis Zero while, if the yoke 24 be swung downwardly,

the displacement of the pump is increased in proportion to theI amount by whichthe yoke is swung. d

. Suitable regulating means such as the cylinder 28 are provided for controlling the position of the yoke 24. The cylinder 28 contains a freely slidable piston 3|), the stem 32 of which is connected by a link 34 to the yoke 24. A spring 36 normally biases the piston 30 to its lowermost position, that is, the position of maximum displacement. For the purpose of reducing the pump displacement as may be required to maintain -a constant delivery pressure at the pump, the annular chamber 38 of the cylinder 28 connects with a conduit 40 which is connected in the circuit as will be described hereafter. The extreme ends of the cylinder 28 are connected to the tank by a conduit 42.

The pump I4 withdraws oil from the tank through a` conduit 43 and delivers oil through a delivery conduit 44, having a check valve 45 for Apreventing return ow to the pump. The conduit 44 extends to a chamber 46 formed in a control block 48. The chamber 46 constitutes the main pressure chamber of a pil-ot operated balanced relief valve 50 which is of the'same general construction as the `valve disclosed in my Patent No. 2,043,453 of June 9, 1936, and is adapted to by-pass oil to a chamber 52 whenever the oil in the control chamber 54 is vented to tank at a faster rate than it can enter the chamber 54 through the restricted oriiice 56. A pilot reliefv y46 and the pressure port of afour-way reverse valve 68, the tank ports of which are connected byk conduits 10 and 'I2 to the chamber 52. The spool 14 of the valve 68-may be moved between the position shown and a lowerposition by means of solenoids 16 and 18, suitable detent means '80 being provided for releasably restraining valve in either position without requiring continued energization of either solenoid. The cylinder ports of the valve 68 connect by conduits 82 and 84 with the rod and head ends of a pair pistons 94 and 96 are formed with tapered ends,

as illustrated, and the conduits leading to the ends of the cylinders-are provided with check valve controlled, restricted branches, as shown,

for providing a hydraulically cushioned deceleration of the pistons at either end of the stroke in the well-known manner. The rods 98 and are provided with collar-like portions |02 and |04 which may be engaged by a plurality of latch means; 'four of which are illustrated.

The latch means may comprise cylindrical plungers |06, having their inner ends beveled, as shown, and normally biased inwardly by springs |08. Each of the plungers |06 is formed to act as a three-way valve which connects with the spring chambers when the latches ere'iln their inward position, illustrated. When the latches are retracted outwardly, these valves are connected in a series circuit starting at the conduit ||0 which is in communication with the conduit 82 at all times. A series of conduits H2,

||4, ||6 and ||8 completes. this series circuit and terminates at'the operating chamber |20 of a pilot operated three-Way valve |22.

The valve |22 has an operating chamber |23 at its lower end containing a spring |24. The

chamber |23 connects by a conduit |25 to the lower cylinder port of valve 68. The valve |22 may be provided with suitable spring detent means |26. A conduit |28 connects to the conduit 84 at a point beyond a check valve |30 and is adapted to be selectively connected by the valve |22 with either, a conduit |32 having a check valve |34 therein and communicating with the conduit 82, or a conduit |36 communicating with the lower tank port of the four-way valve 68. The conduit |36 may have a restricted portion |38 therein.

Communicating with the conduit 44 is a branch conduit |40 which connects to a two-way valve |42. The latter has an upwardly projecting stem |44 which may be depressed by an arm |46, carried by the head |0 when the latter descends to its lowermost position. When the valve plunger |44 is depressed, communication is established from conduit |40 to a conduit |48, leading to the pressure port of a vrotary follow-up valve |50. 'I'he valve |50, which is indicated only diagrammatically in the drawing, may be of any suitable construction whereby pressure and tank connections may be selectively reversed or shut off in-accordance with the difference in angular position between a rotary input member and a rotary follow-back or response member. One example of a valve of this character is illustrated in my Patent No. 2,030,902 of February 18, 1936. The tank port of the valve may be 24, except that the yoke of the motor` is maintained at a fixed, though preferably adjustable, angle, at all times.

The rotary input element of the valve |50 may be connected by means, not illustrated, with a sleeve which is connected by bevel gearing |62- to a handwheel |64. The follow back or response element of the valve |50 may be connected with a shaft |66, onwhich the sleeve |60 is rotatably mounted. Preferably stop means I B8 for limitingthe relative angular displacement between sleeve 60 and shaft |66 are provided to prevent displacement of the two rotary valve controlling elements beyond the amount necessary to fully open the valve in either direction.

This means may be made suiilciently strong so as to provide a mechanical drive from the handwheel |64 to the shaft |66, should the motor |58 for any reason fail to respond to the operation of the follow-up valve |50.

The motor |58 has an outputshaft |10 connected by a gear |12 with a gear |14 mounted for rotation in a fixed bearing, not illustrated. The gear |14 has an internally splined hub in which a splined shaft |16 may be slidably but non-rotatably mounted. The shaft |16 is rotatably mbunted in the'head I0 and connects by gearing |18 tothe rotatable member I2. The gear |12 at the motor |58 also connects by` gearing |80 with the response shaft |66.

For the purpose of limiting the angular rotation of the rotary member I2, the gear |14 carries a gear |82 meshing with a-gear |84 which connects by bevel gearing and shafting |86 to a rotatable limit stop arm |88, mounted for rotation adjacent the valve block 48. The gear ratios are such that one revolution of the member |88 corresponds` to the desired range of angular rotation of thevmember I2. The member |88 is adapted to contact a lever |90 which is connected to operate a rotary pilot valve |92 which is normally spring centered in the position illustrated, but which may be deflected clockwise or counterclockwise by operation of the lever |88. The

. valve |92 has one port |94 connected to the conduit 62. Ports |96 and Hi8-are adapted to be selectively connected with the port |94 by clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation respectively of the valve |92, Port 200 is connected to the tank port of valve 68 by a conduit 202 and serves merely to drain any seepage of fluid from the valve |92. The ports |96 and |98 connect by' conduits 204 and 206 to the controlled ports I of follow-up valve |50, suitable check valves 208 i and 2|0 being provided in. these conduits.

Suitable drain conduits 203, 205, 201, 209 connectthe spring chambers behind the latch izungers |06 with the tank chamber52 in block end of valve |42.

The input sleeve |60 for the follow-up valve may be remotely operated by a suitable Selsyn transmission system comprising the motor 2|2 geared to the sleeve |60 and the generator 2I4 geared to the remote handwheel 2|6. A iiy- Wheel 2|8 may be provided at the handwheel 2| 6 to limit the acceleration which may be imparted-thereto. Preferably a bearing repeater vis also provided at the remote-control station,

connected to tank by a conduit |52 while the comprising a Selsyn generator 220 geared to the rotary member I2 and a Selsyn motor 222 operating a suitable indicating dial 224. Signalling means for indicating Whether the head is in its hoisted or lowered position are provided which consist of a double throw switch 226, nor- A branch 2|| also connects to the lower ward direction, tending to relieve mally spring biased downwardly and adapted to be moved upwardly by a stop 228 carried by the head i0. Switch 228 energizes a light signal 230 when Yhead is up and a light signal 222 when the head l0 is down. The solenolds I5 and 18 may be controlled by suitable momentary contact push button switches 234 and 238.

For the purpose of permitting Yoperation of the device in case of failure of electric power, a hand crank 238 may be applied to the motor shaft for operating the pump |4 manually to raise and lower the head I8. The member I2 may berotated under these conditions by the hand crank |54 in which case a check valve 248 by-passes voil from the 4line 84 to the line |48 when the motor is operated in either direction and acts to pump iluid into the line |52. In case of power failure the valve spool 14 may be operated manually by the handle 242- In operation,starting with the parts in the position shown in the drawing and with the motor driving the pump I4, it will be seen that so long as the valve 88 remains in its upper or hoisting position, iluid will be delivered by the pump |4 through the conduit 44, check valve 45, chamber 4B, conduit 58, valve 88, conduit 84 and check valve |38 vto the lower ends of cylinders 88 and 92. With the pistons 34 and 38 at the upper limit of their strokes, pressure will build up in cylinder 90 and being transmitted through conduit40 tothe annular chamber 38 will `move the piston 38 upwardly to approin'mately the position shown where the displacement of the pump is just suiiicient to make up for the total leakage in the high pressure side of the system.

When it is desired to lower the head I0 and rotating member l2, the switch 234 may be depressed energizing solenoid 18 to shift the spool 14 downwardly, connecting conduit 88 with conduit 82 and connecting conduit 8 4 to tank. Under these conditions pressure oil passes through conduit 82 and through the cushioning check valves to the head ends of the cylinders 88 and 92. This pressure is exerted on the inner face of the latch plungers |06 and is suiiicient to overcome the springs |88, withdrawing the latches from engagement with the collars |02 and |04. Before the latches move outward, pressure is supplied from conduit 82 through check valve |34, conduit |32, valve |22 andvconduits |28 and 84 to the lower ends of the motor cylinders. Due to the diierential area. of the pistons the net fluid force exerted thereon is in the upthe gravity and thus making their from fricinonal drag load on the latches |08 outward movement free caused by the.weight of the head I8 and associated parts.

' As soon as al1 of the latches |85 have moved outwardly, pressure oil is transmittedthrough the series circuit Vat the latch valves through conduits lll, H2, H4, IIS and Illto thellpper operating chamber |28 of the valve |22. The latter shifts downwardly oil from the lower chamber |24 through conduit |25 to the tank. WithA the valve |22 inY its lower posiiion,

conduit |32 is cut on from conduit |28'and the latter is connected to tank through conduit |38, restrictor |38,valve 88, conduit 12,- chamber 52 andconduit 84. .-.Ifhepistons 84 and88 accord- It will be noted that as soon as the valve |22 shifts and the pressure in the head ends of the motoricylindersfalls that the pipe 40 is no longer subject to high pressure and the piston accordingly moves downwardly bringing the pump into full displacement position. As soon as the piston 94 passes the conduit 40 the latter is again connected to the discharge side of the pump and the pump regulates itself to maintain a constant delivery prsure. As the pistons 94 and86 ap- Droach the end of their stroke they are decelerated by the cushioning chambers, pressure remaining on top of the pistons to hold the head 8 in its downward position. With the pistons thus vstalled at the bottom of the cylinders, the pump displacement regulator again swings the yoke 24 to approximately neutral position.

As the 'head I0 reaches the bottom'of its stroke, arm |48 depresses plunger |44 of valve |42 thus connecting conduit |48 to thedelivery conduit 44 of the pump. The system is now ready for operation of the' rotating element I2 under thecontrol of the follow-up valve |50. Thus, if the 'handwheel 2 8 be rotated to any new position this motion is transmitted through the Selsyn system 2|2-2 I4 to the sleeve |60, which controls the input member oi the follow-up valve 50. The relative displacement between the input member and the response member thus produced, opens the valve |50 to flow ofoil from conduit |43 to whichever of the conduits |54 or |56 will cause rotation of the motor |58 in a corresponding direction. The discharge4 from the motor returns from the follow-up valve |50 through conduits |52 and 54 to the tank. The unit 2 may thus be rotated to any desired position, at will, byoperation of the handwheel 2|6.` The bearing repeater 224 ef course indicates all movements of the member i2.

If the member I2 be rotated too far in a given direction, the limit stop arm |88 is caused to aout the pilot valve, lever |80 and opens communication between port |94 and either port |06 or |58, depending upon the direction in which the arm |88 approaches` the lever |96. Assume, for example, that the handwheel 2 I6 is turned in the -direction causing the follow valve |58 to admit pressure oil to the conduit |54 and thus causing the shaft |10 to rotate in the direction of the arrow. The direction of rotation of the other shafts will be as indicated by the arrows, thus moving the lever |90 clockwise and connecting port |84 to port |86. The control chamber 54 ofthe relief valve 50 is thus vented to tank through conduit 62, port |94, valve |82, port |96, conduit 284, check valve 208, follow-up valve |50 and conduitsiSZ and 64. Oil discharged -by the inglydescaidduetothecombinedweightof the head |`8,andtheiiuidpress1neontopof the pistons, the rate ofdescent being slowed down somewhat bythe rcstrictor |88.n

pump is thus lby-passed at the valve 50 from chamber 48 to chamber 52 and through conduit 84 to the tank, thus preventing further operation of the motor |58 in that direction.

It now the handwheel 2|8 be turned in the opposite direction so as to move the follow-up valve to connect conduit |56 .to the pressure conduit |48, it will be seen that Pressure will be immediately transmitted to the conduit 204 and will back up against the check valve 288 thus preventing further venting of the oil from chamber 54 of the relief valve and permitting the latter to close.

Thus motor |58 may be backed away from its f v aive a vented through conduit m, innesco:

conduit 20|. Here again, as soon asthe followup valve operates to back up from the limiting position, pressure builds up behind the check valve 2 I0 and the relief valve is n longer vented.

When it is desired to raise the head l2, switch l236 is closed, energizing solenoid and lifting the valve spool 1l again to the positionshown in the drawing.' The rod ends ofA the cylinders 9U and 92 are now connected to tank through con-V duit 82, conduits 10, 12 and 64. Premure oil from the chamber 46 is admitted to the conduit 25 and chamber |24 to shift the valve |22 upwardly, discharging oil from the chamber 12|) through conduit IIB, the three-way valve at the right hand latch plunger |96 and the drain conduit 209 to tank. It will be noted that due to the tank pressure existing in the upper ends of cylinders 90 and 92, that the springs |08 move all thelatch plungers |06 inwardly. Pressure oil is also delivered from the conduit 66 through conduit 6l and check valve |30 to the lower ends of. the cylinders 90 and 92, thus moving the pistons :and the head I upwardly until the position, shown in the drawing, is reached. The latch plungers |06 then engage the collars |02 and "Il and since the piston 94 is now above the conduit Il), the l pump 24 is again regulated to its small displacement position pressure beneath the pistons 94 and 9B.

If for any reason the Supply 0f electric power should be interrupted, the pump H may be operated by the hand crank 238 to lower the head ID in a similar manner to that previously described. The valve spool 1l may-be operated manually by the handle`242 for this' purpose. 'When the head "Ilias opposite side of the motor |58, through conduit 64 and check valve 210. I'heiiow is always, in the same direction regardlessof the directiono operation of hand wheel |64 since the follow up valve |50 reverses connections tothe motor 158 each time the hand wheel is reversed.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a fluid power Atransmission system the combination with a pump forming a source of sufficient to maintain the desired iiuid under pressure, of .a reciprocating nuid motor operable on iiuid supplied from said source, valve means for selectively controlling the supply of uid tosaid motor, pressure responsive means for regulating the displacement of the pump said means being normally biased to effect a predetermined pump displacement, and means including the motor piston operable during each stroke of the motor to control the connection between said pump regulating means and the motor for causing connection ci said means to the inactive side of the motor during the :Erst Aportion of the stroke and connection to the active side during the iinal portion of eachstroke, said piston alone being the direct controlling means for such connection.

2. In a hydraulic system, a variable delivery pump, a movable head on said pump to control delivery thereof, a reciprocating iiid motor comprising a piston and cylinder, a translatable load device continuously biasing the motor in one direction, a pressure responsive member operably connected to said movable head and movable to regulate the displacement` of said pump, said member being normally biased to eiect a predetermined pump displacement, and conduit means connecting said pressure responsive member to said cylinder at a point between the limits of the stroke of said piston so pressure is maintained in said cylinder to replace leakage when said load is shifted and held against its bias and constant pressure is maintained in said cylinder when said load is shifted in the direction of its bias.

3. In a hydraulic system, a variable delivery pump, a movable head on said pump to control delivery thereof, a reciprocating fluid inotor com- "prising a vertical cylinder and piston therein, a load acting downward on said piston, a pressure responsive member operably connected to said movable head and movable to regulate the displacement of said pump, said member being normally biased away from a neutral position to effeet a predetermined pump displacement, and conduit means connecting said pressure responsive member toY said cylinder at a point adjacent but spaced from the top thereof a distance slightly greater than the axial length of said piston so pressure in said cylinder reacts on` said pressure responsive member to actuate the same towards neutral whereby when said piston is in up position, said pump will be reduced in displacement to maintain leakage and when said piston is descending below the conduit cylinder opening, substantially constant pressure will be maintained to urge the piston downwardly.

' HARRY F.

pump regulating 

